LG denies plans for a Google Play Edition of the LG G2

Once upon a time (a few months ago), pretty much the only way to avoid skinned Android was to pick yourself up a Nexus device. This all changed starting with the Google Play Edition of the Galaxy S4, which took Samsung’s flagship device and stripped away all the carrier customizations in favor of stock Android.

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Since then, we’ve also seen HTC One jump on the bandwagon, and Motorola has indicated plans to do the same. With the LG G2 now official, we have to wonder if LG follow suite. The answer is “no”, at least according to LG PR spokesperson Ken Hong.

“As of right now, LG doesn’t have any plans for a Google Play Edition. The focus for the G2 is penetration through carriers. That however could change down the road,” states Hong.

If I were a betting man, I’d say it is probable that we will see the LG G2 running in full stock Android glory sometime in the future, either as a GPe device or as the next Nexus.

So what exactly does this mean? One obvious answer is that LG isn’t interested in releasing a GPe model because the G2 could be the basis for the Nexus 5, which would make a GPe model redundant. The obvious answer isn’t always the right one, however.

The LG G2 has a lot of cool features and killer hardware, and I personally hope it is the inspiration for the Nexus 5, but let’s not get ahead of ourselves just yet. There are other possible explanations for why LG isn’t planning on a GPe model.

First, they could truly have more interest in pushing their devices onto carriers, as they claim. After all, this is one of the few LG flagships that will arrive on all four major U.S. carriers, so they clearly are upping their game here.

Another possibility is that LG is pulling an HTC move. Remember HTC’s official response when asked if they’d release a GPe version of the HTC One? And yet here we are.

Ultimately, we just don’t know what the future hold. If I were a betting man, I’d say it is probable that we will see the LG G2 running in full stock Android glory sometime in the future, either as a GPe device or as the next Nexus.

What do you think, do you hope to see a GPe G2 or a G2-based Nexus 5? Or would you rather pick up the LG G2 in its current form?